500th Letter

**** This programme was suggested by Robert Stallard, Fiona Mcphail, Jill Smith and Nick Stewart as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****

Alistair Cooke reflects on all the changes he has witnessed in his 500th Letter from America.

He also remembers Lindsay Wellington, the BBC head who came up with the idea of weekly letters in 1946 to help people in the UK understand American life.

Alistair's weekly 15-minute talks on American life, history and politics broadcast on BBC radio from 1946 – 2004.

First broadcast on the BBC Home Service in September 1957.

**** To nominate a programme from the archives that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****